Tug-retainer.



Patentedmaya, |900'.

' H. MICHAEL. TUG RETAINER.

(Application led Sept. 12, 1899.)

(N0 Model.)

Witnesses.

sa/MM l UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

HENRY MICHAEL, OF HAMBURG, NEW YORK.

TUG-RETAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,208, dated May 8, 1900; yApplication filed September-12, 1899. Serial No. 730,217. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY MICHAEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamburg, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Tug-Retainers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved tug holding or retaining device; and one object of the invention is to pivot or otherwise movably secure simple and cheap attachments to the ends of the whiffietree that are adapted to be hooked over the ends of the traces to se; cure them in place.

Another object of myinvention is to interpose a portion of spring rubber or equivalent material between the whiftletree and the adjacent portion of the carriage to prevent rattling and form a spring-cushion for the whifiletree when pressed 'or moved. backward.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The invention is susceptible to various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in' the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of a portion of a whiffletree and its support having my improved attachment secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on or about line a a, Fig. 2. Fig. t is a transverse section on or about line b h, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view, a portion of the shaft or thill cross-bar being broken away to expose the attachment. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on or about line c c, Fig. 5.

In referring to vthe drawings in detail like numerals designate like parts.

l represents the cross-bar of the thills or shafts of a vehicle, which has the whiietree 2 attached thereto in the usual manner.

The trace 3 is provided with the usual opening in its end, through which is passed the metallic projection t in the end of the whiffletree. Over each end of the whiffletree ametal cap 5 is fitted to give additional strength to the ends. rlhe metallic proj ectionst are preferably screw-threaded at one end and are' inserted in an opening in the metal caps and firmly screwed into the ends of the whiflietree. v

The trace fastening or locking attachment is preferably formed of a wire or metal bar bent to the desired angular formation and is pivoted to the whiftletree 2. 6a of said bar are bent at an angle from the intermediate portions 7 and 7a and hook over the ends of the trace 3 to secure or lock it against displacement from the whiftietree, the end bending upward at substantially a right angle from one end of the intermediate portion 7 and the opposite end of said portion bending vertically upward and then diagonally forward and upward to form the vangular portion 7a, which bends downward atits forward end to form the'end 6a. i This metallic bar is preferably pivoted to the under side of the whiftietree by means of a metal plate 8, having a socket or depression 8, which enlarges at or near its center to form a journalseat 9 for the horizontal portion 7 of the angular bar, and one side of the portion 7 is slightly flattened, as shown in Fig. 6, to allow a strip of spring material 10 to press against and hold the fastening or locking attachment in a raised position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, when detached from the trace 3. The strip of spring material l0 is fastened at one end to the metal plate 8 by a rivet '1l or similar fastening device, the other end being unfastened to provide an easy means for removing the angular bar from its seat in the plate when said plate is detached froml the whiftletree. The metal plate 8 is securedvto the whiflietree 2 by screws 12 or similar means. The socket or depression 8 in the plate is made deeper at one end, preferably the rear end, to aord movement to the free end of the spring under the rotation of the portion 7. (See Figs. 3 and 6.7) The whiffletree 2 and the cross-bar of the thillsv are secured together at each end by a strap 13, of leather or similar material, both ends being fastened together and to the cross-bar, preferably on the under side, by means of a small screw 14. Interposed between the whiflietree and the cross-bar is an antirattling device, which preferably consists of a cres- The ends 6 and L IOO cent-shaped cushion of spring-rubber 15 o'r equivalent material of suitable size and formation, having its lower edge 16 serrated orl notched to render the cushion more elastic or yielding; and its u'pper surface isA convex to `allow greater freedom to the whiiiletree within the limited range of lateral movement permitted by the restrainingstrap 13. The cushion is held in position by staples 17, which pass through the strap 13 andinto the cushion at or near its ends and also serve to retain the strap in position.

To attach a trace to the end of a whiiiletree provided with my improved attachment, the trace is slipped over the end, with its outer end bent longitudinally to the whiiiletree, and the pivotal attachment is turned into locking position, bringing the hooked ends 6 and 6 over the trace, substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5.A The angular portion 7a extends closely along the surface of the whifietree when the device is in its locked position,(see Figs. 2 and 5,) and the bar is thus materially strengthened and held rigidly against movement independent of the whiiletree other than a vertical turning movementin its journal-bearing to unlock the tug.

It is obvious that this attachment can be pivoted to any of the well-known forms of whiffletrees, and I therefore reserve the right to attach it to any to which it maybe adapted.

I claim as my invention-1 1. A trace-holding device bent into form from a single metal bar or wire and having an inner vertical hook end G, which bends at its lower end to form a horizontal portion 7,

the opposite end o'f wliicli bends vertically upward and then diagonally forward and upward from an angular portion 7', which in turn bends down to form a second vertical hook end 6, and a plate attached to a whithetree and having an enlargement in which the horizontal portion 7, journals, as set forth.

2. The combination with a whiftletree and its support, of an antirattling cushion of rubber having a convex top surface and a notched or serrated bottom surface interposed between said Whiflietree and support, as set forth.

3. The combination with a whifllet-ree, its support and a leather strap encircling said whiftletree and support, and sufficiently loose to allow a limited range of movement to said whiilietree independently of said support, of a cushion of spring-rubber interposed between said whiiiietree and support and having a convex top surface and a notched lower surface, and staples passed through the straps and into the ends of the cushion, as set foi-thi 4. The combination With a whiflietree, its support, and a leather strap encircling said whiiiietree and support, and sufficiently loose to allow a limited range of movement to said whiiiietree independent of said support, of a cushion of spring-rubber interposed between said whiflietree and support, said cushion having a notched lower surface to increase its elasticity, as set forth.

HENRY MICHAEL.

Witnesses:

L. M. BILLrNGs, G. A. NEUBAUER. 

